Hollywood Sign and the ridge above Los Angeles
Published on 09/01/2026 at 09:08 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Hollywood Sign crowns Mount Lee above Los Angeles, with white letters stretched across the ridge in Griffith Park. The landmark first appeared in 1923 as Hollywoodland Sign, and the modern version dates from 1978.
Mount Lee and the white letters
The sign measures 45 ft (13.7 m) high and 450 ft (137.2 m) long. It reads across the hillside in tall block capitals, with the slope of Mount Lee as its backdrop.
The present structure is steel with concrete footings. The original version stood as a wooden and sheet-metal advertisement, and the name was shortened to Hollywood in 1949.
From advertisement to city landmark
The first sign promoted the Hollywoodland real-estate development in the hills above Hollywood. It was erected in 1923 and associated with Thomas Fisk Goff, who designed the original lettering for the Crescent Sign Company.Hollywoodland real-estate development
The letters were originally illuminated by many bulbs, and the structure was later rebuilt in steel. The landmark is owned by the City of Los Angeles, while the Hollywood Sign Trust helps maintain and protect it.City of Los Angeles
How the hillside frames the sign
The sign sits on the southern side of Mount Lee in Griffith Park, above Beachwood Canyon and the Hollywood Hills. That placement leaves the letters visible across a wide sweep of the basin below.
The ground around it is steep and rough, with restricted areas on the hillside. The surrounding parkland and ridgeline give the place a clear sense of height and distance from the city streets below.
Visiting Hollywood Sign: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The sign lies in Griffith Park on Mount Lee, north of the Hollywood district and above Beachwood Canyon. Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood and Highland area are common starting points for viewpoints.
- The hillside is steep and uneven, with rough ground underfoot and sections that are closed to casual access. The approach is a walk on trails rather than a level promenade.
- The official language is English and the currency is the United States dollar.
- Conditions on the mountain change with the seasons; the local cable-car operators and alpine clubs provide information.
Searching for Hollywood Sign on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Hollywood Sign
Where is Hollywood Sign?
It stands on Mount Lee in Griffith Park, above the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. The letters face the city from the southern side of the ridge.
What does a visit involve?
Expect hillside trails, uneven ground and viewpoints set away from the letters. The sign itself is on a steep slope rather than in a flat visitor area.
What makes Hollywood Sign distinctive?
Its scale, hilltop setting and 1923 origin give it a strong visual presence. The steel reconstruction of 1978 keeps the familiar outline of the earlier Hollywoodland sign.
